Method of high-speed monitoring based on the use of multivariate optical elements

Abstract

A method of high-speed processing and monitoring of a product, such as a pharmaceutical powder or tablet, comprises: moving the product (C) past an inspection station; illuminating at least a portion of the product with light; spectrally filtering a first portion of light carrying information about the product, o.g., transmitted or reflected light, by passing said first portion through at least one multivariate optical element ( 148 ) and detecting said filtered light with a first detector ( 152 ), —detecting a deflected second portion of said light with a second detector ( 156 ); and determining at least one selected property of the product based on the detector outputs.

1. A method of high-speed processing and monitoring, comprising:
 moving a product past an inspection point; 
 illuminating at least a portion of the product with a light; 
 dividing light carrying information about the portion of the product with a beam splitter into a first light portion and a second light portion, the first light portion and the second light portion having spectral characteristics; 
 after dividing the light with the beam splitter, directing the first light portion through at least one multivariate optical element to produce a first signal; 
 detecting the first signal at a first detector; 
 directing the second light portion in a direction of a second detector, the second detector configured used to detect the second light portion; and 
 determining at high speed at least one selected property of the portion as the portion moves past the inspection point based upon the detector outputs. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the product includes a pharmaceutical tablet. 
     
     
       3. The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the product includes a pharmaceutical powder. 
     
     
       4. The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the product includes a liquid. 
     
     
       5. The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the product includes a gas. 
     
     
       6. The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the product includes an emulsion. 
     
     
       7. The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the product includes a solution. 
     
     
       8. The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the product includes a mixture, 
     
     
       9. A method of high-speed pharmaceutical processing and monitoring, comprising:
 moving a plurality of portions of pharmaceutical product past an inspection point; 
 illuminating at least one portion of the pharmaceutical product with a spectral-specific light through an optic window, the window configured to focus the spectral-specific light onto a portion at the inspection point; 
 dividing light carrying information about the portion of the pharmaceutical product with a beam splitter into a first light portion and a second light portion, the first light portion and the second light portion having substantially similar spectral characteristics; 
 after dividing the light with the beam splitter, directing light carrying information about the portion through at least one multivariate optical element to produce a first signal; 
 detecting the first signal at a first detector; 
 directing the second light portion in a direction of a second detector, the second detector configured to detect the second light portion; and 
 determining at high speed at least one selected property of the portion as the portion moves past the inspection point based upon the first and second detector outputs. 
 
     
     
       10. The method as in  claim 9 , wherein the portion is a pharmaceutical tablet. 
     
     
       11. The method as in  claim 9 , wherein the portion is a quantity of pharmaceutical powder. 
     
     
       12. The method as in  claim 9 , wherein the portion is a chemical sample in a closed container, the container at least partially transparent to light focused onto the chemical sample. 
     
     
       13. The method as in  claim 9 , wherein the portion is moved past the inspection point in at least 10 seconds. 
     
     
       14. The method as in  claim 9 , wherein the portion is moved past the inspection point in at least one minute. 
     
     
       15. The method as in  claim 9 , wherein at least 10 portions per second are moved past the inspection point. 
     
     
       16. A method of processing and monitoring a solid product, the method comprising:
 moving a solid product past an inspection point; 
 illuminating the solid product with a spectral-specific light through an optic lens; 
 dividing light carrying information about the portion of the solid product with a beam splitter into a first light portion and a second light portion, the first light portion and the second light portion having substantially similar spectral characteristics; 
 after dividing the light with the beam splitter, directing light from the solid product through at least one multivariate optical element to produce a first signal, 
 detecting the first signal at a first detector; 
 directing the second light portion in a direction of a second detector, the second detector configured to detect the second light portion; and 
 computing at high speed at least one selected property of the solid product as the solid product moves past the inspection point based upon the detector outputs. 
 
     
     
       17. The method as in  claim 16 , wherein the solid product is a pharmaceutical tablet. 
     
     
       18. The method as in  claim 16 , wherein the solid product is a quantity of pharmaceutical powder. 
     
     
       19. The method as in  claim 16 , wherein the solid product is a powder mixture in a closed container, the container at least partially transparent to light focused onto the powder mixture. 
     
     
       20. The method as in  claim 16 , wherein the solid product is moved past the inspection point in at least one minute. 
     
     
       21. The method as in  claim 16 , wherein the solid product is moved past the inspection point at a rate of between about 1 product per 10 seconds to about 10 products per second. 
     
     
       22. A method of processing and monitoring a chemical, the method comprising:
 moving a chemical past an inspection point; 
 illuminating the chemical with a spectral-specific light through an optic lens; 
 dividing light carrying information about the chemical with a beam splitter into a first light portion and a second light portion, the first light portion and the second light portion having substantially similar spectral characteristics; 
 after dividing the light with the beam splitter, directing the first light portion through at least one multivariate optical element to produce a first signal, 
 detecting the first signal at a first detector; 
 directing the second light portion in a direction of a second detector, the second detector, the second detector configured to detect the deflected portion; and 
 computing at high speed at least one selected property of the chemical as the chemical moves past the inspection point based upon the detector outputs. 
 
     
     
       23. The method as in  claim 22 , wherein the chemical comprises a plurality of discrete portions. 
     
     
       24. The method as in  claim 22 , further comprising the step of moving the portions past the inspection point at a rate of between about 1 product per second and about 5 products per minute. 
     
     
       25. The method as in  claim 22 , further comprising the step of moving the portions past the inspection point at a rate of about 1 product per minute. 
     
     
       26. The method as in  claim 22 , further comprising the step of moving the portions past the inspection point at a rate of at least one portion per second. 
     
     
       27. The method as in  claim 22 , further comprising the step of moving the portions past the inspection point at a rate of at least five portions per second. 
     
     
       28. The method as in  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of discrete portions are disposed in closed containers, the containers at least partially transparent to the spectral-specific light.